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Maternal Involvement in Math Homework and its Influence on Adolescents’ Math Outcomes During the Transition to Middle School: Who Profits from Homework Assistance?

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Date Issued:
2017
Summary:
As adolescents transition to middle school, math confidence and performance declines (Eccles et al., 1993; Lee, Statuto, & Kadar-Voivodas, 1983). These declines are typically attributed to social and maturational changes (Eccles, Lord, & Midgley, 1991; Simmons & Blyth, 1987). In this dissertation, I explore the hypothesis that low parent support for schoolwork is also responsible. Latino-American adolescents are especially at risk for math difficulties. Maintaining adolescents’ engagement and performance in math are important goals for mothers because high levels of both are requisites for many professional careers. This dissertation will focus on Latino-American families to determine if mothers’ homework involvement is associated with changes in children’s math-related outcomes across the transition to secondary school. Parental involvement in math homework is assumed to mitigate declines in math performance during this transition. Cognitive models suggest that involved parents utilize scaffolding (Rogoff & Gardner, 1984) and instruction to ensure math achievement (Pomerantz & Moorman, 2010). Motivational models suggest that involved parents foster math engagement by bolstering child confidence, modeling management strategies, and promoting values that encourage children to work hard (Grolnick & Slowiaczek, 1994; Simpkins, Fredricks, & Eccles, 2015). However, empirical evidence in support of the importance of parents in math achievement is limited. While positive forms of involvement co-occur with better math outcomes (Bhanot & Jovanovic, 2005; Rice et al., 2013), no studies have examined such associations longitudinally. Children who are uninterested in math may be more susceptible to the effects of parental homework involvement because they lack internal motivation for mastery that underlies performance in other children. The present study examines the extent to which Latina-American mothers’ involvement in math homework is effective in preventing declines in child math-related outcomes (i.e., perceptions of math ability, etc) during the transition to middle school. Child math interest was postulated to moderate this association. Results indicated that low maternal homework involvement predicts worsening child math-related outcomes, but only for children who were intrinsically uninterested in math. The findings hold important implications for parents, who must work to ensure that they remain engaged in their children’s activities, especially if children appear uninterested in math.
Title: Maternal Involvement in Math Homework and its Influence on Adolescents’ Math Outcomes During the Transition to Middle School: Who Profits from Homework Assistance?.
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Name(s): Dickson, Daniel J., author
Laursen, Brett, Thesis advisor
Florida Atlantic University, Degree grantor
Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
Department of Psychology
Type of Resource: text
Genre: Electronic Thesis Or Dissertation
Date Created: 2017
Date Issued: 2017
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Place of Publication: Boca Raton, Fla.
Physical Form: application/pdf
Extent: 158 p.
Language(s): English
Summary: As adolescents transition to middle school, math confidence and performance declines (Eccles et al., 1993; Lee, Statuto, & Kadar-Voivodas, 1983). These declines are typically attributed to social and maturational changes (Eccles, Lord, & Midgley, 1991; Simmons & Blyth, 1987). In this dissertation, I explore the hypothesis that low parent support for schoolwork is also responsible. Latino-American adolescents are especially at risk for math difficulties. Maintaining adolescents’ engagement and performance in math are important goals for mothers because high levels of both are requisites for many professional careers. This dissertation will focus on Latino-American families to determine if mothers’ homework involvement is associated with changes in children’s math-related outcomes across the transition to secondary school. Parental involvement in math homework is assumed to mitigate declines in math performance during this transition. Cognitive models suggest that involved parents utilize scaffolding (Rogoff & Gardner, 1984) and instruction to ensure math achievement (Pomerantz & Moorman, 2010). Motivational models suggest that involved parents foster math engagement by bolstering child confidence, modeling management strategies, and promoting values that encourage children to work hard (Grolnick & Slowiaczek, 1994; Simpkins, Fredricks, & Eccles, 2015). However, empirical evidence in support of the importance of parents in math achievement is limited. While positive forms of involvement co-occur with better math outcomes (Bhanot & Jovanovic, 2005; Rice et al., 2013), no studies have examined such associations longitudinally. Children who are uninterested in math may be more susceptible to the effects of parental homework involvement because they lack internal motivation for mastery that underlies performance in other children. The present study examines the extent to which Latina-American mothers’ involvement in math homework is effective in preventing declines in child math-related outcomes (i.e., perceptions of math ability, etc) during the transition to middle school. Child math interest was postulated to moderate this association. Results indicated that low maternal homework involvement predicts worsening child math-related outcomes, but only for children who were intrinsically uninterested in math. The findings hold important implications for parents, who must work to ensure that they remain engaged in their children’s activities, especially if children appear uninterested in math.
Identifier: FA00004911 (IID)
Degree granted: Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2017.
Collection: FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection
Note(s): Includes bibliography.
Subject(s): Hispanic Americans--Education--Parent participation.
Academic achievement.
Adjustment (Psychology)
Learning, Psychology of.
Parent and child.
Parent and teenager.
Mathematics--Study and teaching (Middle school)
Middle school students.
Motivation in education.
Education--Parent participation.
Held by: Florida Atlantic University Libraries
Sublocation: Digital Library
Links: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004911
Persistent Link to This Record: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004911
Use and Reproduction: Copyright © is held by the author, with permission granted to Florida Atlantic University to digitize, archive and distribute this item for non-profit research and educational purposes. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires permission of the copyright holder.
Use and Reproduction: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
Host Institution: FAU
Is Part of Series: Florida Atlantic University Digital Library Collections.